1st Fighter Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Fighter Wing


caption= 1st Fighter Wing emblem
dates= 1947-1952, 1956-present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role= Fighter: air dominance
size= 40 F-22 Raptor
45 F-15 Eagle
(May 2007)
command_structure= Air Combat Command
current_commander= Brig Gen. Mark A. Barrett
garrison= Langley Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= Aut Vincere Aut Mori
"Conquer or Die"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= War in Southwest Asia
anniversaries=
notable_commanders=Larry D. Welch
Richard B. Myers
John T. Chain, Jr.
William R. Looney III
Gregory S. Martin
decorations= (6 awards)

The 1st Fighter Wing (1 FW) is an air combat unit of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. See also 1st Fighter Group for complete timeline information.

Lineage

Established as the 1st Fighter Wing on 28 July 1947 and organized on 15 August 1947. Redesignated 1st Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 16 April 1950. Inactivated 6 February 1952. Redesignated 1st Fighter Wing (Air Defense) on 14 September 1956 and activated 18 October 1956. Redesignated 1st Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 October 1970. Redesignated 1st Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991.

Assignments

*Twelfth Air Force, 15 August 1947;
*Fourth Air Force, 20 December 1948;
*Fifteenth Air Force, 1 May 1949 (attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 25 November 1947-28 March 1949; attached to 22d Bombardment Wing, 10 May 1949-1 April 1950);
* Fourth Air Force, 1 July 1950 (attached to Western Air Defense Force, 1-31 July 1950);
* Western Air Defense Force, 1 August 1950-6 February 1952 (attached to: Southern California Air Defense Sector [Provisional] , 7 August-19 September 1950;
*27th Air Division, 20 September 1950-c. 6 February 1952).
*30th Air Division, 18 October 1956;
*Detroit Air Defense Sector, 1 April 1959;
*34th Air Division, 1 April 1966;
*23rd Air Division, 1 December 1969;
*26th Air Division, 31 December 1969;
*836th Air Division, 1 October 1970;
*Ninth Air Force, 30 September 1971-.

Flying components

Groups

*1st Fighter Group (later, 1st Fighter-Interceptor; 1st Fighter; 1st Operations): 15 August 1947-6 February 1952 (detached 15 August 1950-3 June 1951); 18 October 1956-1 February 1961; 1 October 1991-.
*1st Rescue Group: 14 June 1995-1 April 1997.
*67th Reconnaissance Group: 15 August-25 November 1947.

quadrons

*6th Airborne Command and Control Squadron: 19 April 1976-1 October 1991.
*7th Liaison Squadron: 1 September 1947-28 March 1949.
*27th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 1 July 1971-1 October 1991 (detached 7 August 1990-8 March 1991).
*45th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 1 October 1970-1 July 1971.
*46th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 1 October 1970-1 July 1971.
*47th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 1 October 1970-1 July 1971.
*71st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (later, 71st Tactical Fighter, then 71st Fighter Squadron): 1 February 1961-16 January 1967; 1 July 1971-1 October 1991 (detached 7 August 1990-8 March 1991).
*84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 31 December 1969-1 October 1970.
*94th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (later, 94th Tactical Fighter, then 94th Fighter Squadron): attached 15 August 1950-3 June 1951; assigned 1 February 1961-1 December 1969 (detached 24 May-3 November 1969); assigned 1 July 1971-1 October 1991.
*188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: attached 15 June 1951-6 February 1952.
*4424th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 1 October 1970-30 June 1972.
*4501st Tactical Fighter Replacement Squadron: 1 October 1971-30 June 1975.

Flights

*4401st Helicopter Flight: 31 March 1987-1 October 1991.

tations

*March Field (later, AFB), California, 15 August 1947
*George AFB, California, 18 July 1950
*Norton AFB, California, 1 December 1951-6 February 1952
*Selfridge AFB, Michigan, 18 October 1956
*Hamilton AFB, California, 31 December 1969
*MacDill AFB, Florida, 1 October 1970
*Langley AFB, Virginia, 30 June 1975-.

Commanders

Aircraft

*P-80 Shooting Star (later F-80) (1947 - 1949)
*RF-80 (1947 - 1949)
*FA (later, RB)-26 (1947 - 1949)
*Stinson L-13 (1947 - 1949)
*B-26 Marauder (1948 - 1949)
*Piper J-3 (1948 - 1949)
*L-5 Sentinel (1948 - 1949)
*B-29 Superfortress (1949)
*P-51 Mustang (1951 - 1952)
*F-86 Sabre (1956 - 1960, 1949 - 1952)
*F-102 Delta Dagger (1958 - 1960)
*F-106 Delta Dart (1960 - 1969, 1969 - 1970)
*F-4 Phantom II (1970-1975)
*B-57 Canberra (1970-1972)
*F-15 Eagle (1975-Present)
*EC-135 (1976-1992)
*HH-3 (1993-1994)
*Lockheed HC-130 (1993-1997)
*C-21 (1993-1997)
*HH-60 Pave Hawk (1994-1997)
*F-22 Raptor (2004-Present)

Operations

Trained in fighter and reconnaissance operations and supported strategic bombardment training, 1947-1950. Was integrated experimentally with a reconnaissance wing, 1947-1949, and with a bombardment wing, 1949-1950, sharing commanders during much of this time. Supported Operation Haylift, a humanitarian effort to deliver food to snowbound cattle in the western United States, 1949. Provided air defense in southern California from mid-1950 until inactivated in 1952. Provided air defense in the upper Midwest area, 1956 through 1969, then moved to central California, still in an air defense role.

Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam

In response to the Cuban Missile crisis, the Wing deployed personnel and aircraft to Patrick AFB, Florida, in October 1962. During their six-week stay at Patrick, the 1st flew 620 sorties maintaining an 80 percent mission capable rating.

During the Vietnam War, the Wing served as a transition unit for many pilots en route to or returning from Southeast Asia. As the decade came to a close, the units split again, serving across the nation: the 71st in Missouri, and the 94th in Michigan. In order to maintain the historic 1st Fighter Wing and provide a new combat training unit necessitated by the Vietnam War, Tactical Air Command inactivated the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing, and activated the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida, on 1 October 1970. The personnel and equipment formerly of the 15th now served under the 1st. The squadrons of the 15 TFW were assigned to the historic wing: the 45th, 46th, and 47th Tactical Fighter Squadrons.

Completing the Wing's historic preservation, the commanders of the three squadrons participated in a shoot-out at the Avon Park Air Force Range to determine which squadrons would receive the designations of the 27th, 71st, and 94th. The commander of the 47 TFS marked the highest score, and chose the 94 TFS; the 46 TFS placed second, choosing the 27 TFS, leaving the 45 TFS with the squadron having the shortest history, the 71 TFS. The hostilities in Vietnam brought upon the Wing a new mission. Directed to "conduct combat aircrew academic and flight training in the tactics, techniques, and operations of assigned aircrew and associate equipment." the Wing provided training in the F-4E Phantom II and the B-57 Canberra. After training, most pilots continued onto service in Southeast Asia.

F-15 Eagle Era

On 14 March 1974, the Air Force publicly announced plans to station the Air Force's first operational F-15 wing at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. Langley was chosen due to its heritage and ideal location for TAC's secondary air defense mission. After studying the heritage of its wings, TAC selected the 1st Fighter Wing as the unit to receive the first Eagle. On 6 June 1975, Tactical Air Command directed Ninth Air Force to move the 1st Fighter Wing from MacDill to Langley AFB. Although the designation of the unit moved, the majority of MacDill personnel remained in place, and served under the newly designated 56th Tactical Fighter Wing.

1st Tactical Fighter Wing personnel spent six months preparing for the arrival of the F-15. By the end of 1975, the Wing was ready for its new air superiority weapon, and on 18 December 1975, Lt Col John Britt, Operations Officer, flew the Wing's first F-15 (a two-seat trainer) into Langley. Official welcoming ceremonies were held on 9 January 1976, when Lt Col Richard L. Craft, 27th Fighter Squadron Commander, landed with the Wing's first single seat F-15. In recognition of its accomplishment of introducing the F-15 into the Air Force's operational inventory, the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing received its first Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, for the period 1 July 1975-31 October 1976.

After achieving operational ready status, the Wing took the experience they had earned and utilized it on a program nicknamed "Ready Eagle." The 1st helped prepare the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing at Bitburg Air Base, Germany, for their reception of the F-15. The 1st assisted in the training of maintenance personnel and pilots. By 23 September 1977, the wing provided Bitburg with 88 operational ready pilots, 522 maintenance specialists, and later trained an additional 1,100 maintenance personnel at Bitburg.

On 15 April 1977, the 1 TFW acquired a new mission, it assumed responsibility for the 6th Airborne Command and Control Squadron's EC-135 aircraft and crews, previously assigned to the 4500th Air Base Wing at Langley. The 6 ACCS flew EC-135 airborne command posts in support of US Commander-in-Chief Atlantic (USCINCLANT) with deployments throughout the Atlantic region until early 1992. 1st Fighter Wing participation in world-wide deployments and training exercises continued through the 1980s. The Wing served in countries throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Central America.

outhwest Asia operations

The training and experience gained was called upon in the summer of 1990, when Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait. On 7 August 1990, the 27th and 71st Tactical Fghter Squadrons began deploying to Saudi Arabia as the first American combat units on the ground in Saudi Arabia, in support of the defense of the Arabian peninsula from further Iraqi aggression -- an operation dubbed Operation Desert Shield. In all, the 1 TFW deployed 48 aircraft to the Persian Gulf. By 16 January 1991, when Desert Shield came to a close, the Wing amassed 4,207 sorties patrolling the Kuwait and Iraq border areas.

At 0115 local Saudi Arabia time, on 17 January 1991, sixteen 1st Tactical Fighter Wing F-15s departed King Abdul-Aziz Air Base and flew toward Iraq to participate in Operation Desert Storm, the liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqis.

During the first night of the operation, Captain Steven Tate of the 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron, shot down an Iraqi Mirage F-1, which turned out to be the wing's only kill during the war. It was also the first combat credit awarded to the wing under command of the U.S. Air Force. Upon its return on 8 March 1991, the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing had amassed a total of 2,564 sorties during Operation Desert Storm.

The end of the First Gulf War did not bring an end to the Wing's support in Southwest Asia. Monitoring the southern no-fly zone, the 1st provided six-month coverage every year under Operation Southern Watch and Operation Northern Watch. In October 1994, when Saddam Hussein again placed forces near the Kuwaiti border, the Wing participated in a short-notice deployment, Operation Vigilant Warrior.

Operation Vigilant Warrior demonstrated the need for an Air Force capability of providing combat air power globally at short notice. This requirement resulted in the concept of the Air Expeditionary Force (AEF.) During AEF II, the 1st Fighter Wing deployed 12 F-15s and over 600 personnel to Shaheed Mwaffaq Air Base, Jordan, from 12 April-28 June 1996. Wing members built and operated from the bare base, and provided support to Operation Southern Watch, supporting UN sanctions and enforcing the no-fly zones in Iraq.

On 25 June 1996, a fuel truck loaded with explosives detonated outside the Khobar Towers Housing area, in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The bomb took the lives of 19 Air Force members, including five airmen of the 71st Rescue Squadron, and consequently the 1st Fighter Wing relocated its Southwest Asia operations from Dhahran to Al Kharj.

Additional mission tasks

On 1 October 1991, the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated 1st Fighter Wing; the 1st Fighter Group was redesignated as the 1st Operations Group and reactivated as part of the wing. The 1st Fighter Wing assumed responsibility of three additional missions--air control, airlift, and search and rescue: :—On 15 March 1992, the 74th Air Control Squadron was transferred to the 1st Fighter Wing. The 74th provided command and control of air operations for worldwide operations. :—On 1 February 1993, the 41st and 71st Rescue Squadrons, and the 741st Maintenance Squadron were assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing. Stationed at Patrick AFB, Florida, the units provided search and rescue for NASA's space shuttle missions, and support of combat search and rescue operations in Southwest Asia. Additionally, :—On 1 April 1993 C-21 operational support aircraft were assigned to the Wing with the establishment of Detachment 1, 1st Operations Group. On 1 May, the detachment inactivated and the 12th Airlift Flight, with the same mission, activated.

The 1st Rescue Group was activated as part of the 1st Fighter Wing on June 14, 1995, to provide operational control of the Search and Rescue mission.

Two realignments ordered by Air Combat Command took effect on the same day, 1 April 1997. The most substantial one had been the 1st Rescue Group's reassignment to the 347th Wing at Moody Air Force Base. This move meant the loss of two types of aircraft, the HC-130P "Hercules" gunship, and the HH-60G "Pave Hawk" helicopter. When the Air Force decided to transfer 12th Airlift Flight to Air Mobility Command, another type of aircraft, the C-21, was removed from the 1st Fighter Wing's possession exactly four years after it had been assigned.

What made the wing's valued participation in this contingency unique is the fact it sent no aircraft in support of it, exemplifying the diversity of the 1st Fighter Wing's comprehensive mission. Over 150 personnel from 11 units within the 1st Fighter Wing deployed to the European theater in direct support of Operation Allied Force and associated operations such as Noble Anvil and Shining Hope.

Responsible for the worldwide mobility commitment to execute command and control operations, the 74th Air Control Squadron provided the largest contingent of 1st Fighter Wing personnel and equipment to Operation Noble Anvil. The 74th ACS set up their equipment outside Budapest, Hungary, to provide joint forces and theater commanders with an accurate air picture for conducting offensive and defensive missions. During Operation Allied Force, the 74th Air Control Squadron deployed to provide critical air control in the European Theater of Operations.

Post 9-11

On 11 September 2001, the 1st Fighter Wing took to the skies to simultaneously defend the east and west coasts of the US against further terrorist attacks. The 1st Wing's F-15s were among the first fighters on scene over Washington D.C. and remained on station continuously for the next six months. The 1st Fighter Wing simultaneously participated in the US homeland defense mission in Operation Noble Eagle; maintained its lead wing status in the USAF's expeditionary air force (AEF) rotations to Southwest Asia, Turkey, enforcing UN no-fly zone sanctions in Operation Southern Watch Operation Northern Watch until 2003; and deployed fighters to Keflavík, Iceland to fulfill NATO treaty obligations. During the Second Gulf War in 2003, the 71st Fighter Squadron deployed again to Southwest Asia. In 2005, the 27th and 94th Fighter Squadrons became the first squadrons in the world to achieve operational status flying the F-22 Raptor.

Honors

Authorized to display honors earned by the 1st Operations Group prior to 15 August 1947.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers.

;World War I: Champagne-Marne; Aisne-Marne; Oise-Aisne; St Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Lorraine Defensive Sector; Champagne Defensive Sector.

;World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Italy, 25 August 1943; Italy, 30 August 1943; Ploieşti, Romania, 18 May 1944.

;Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Decorations.

;Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 July 1975-31 October 1976; 15 June 1982-15 June 1984; 16 June 1984-15 June 1986; 1 June 1995-31 May 1997; 1 June 1998-31 May 2000; 1 June 2000-31 May 2001.

Emblem

Approved for 1st Operations Group on 10 February 1924 and for 1st Fighter Wing on 22 May 1957.

References

External links

* [http://www.langley.af.mil Langley Air Force Base] (official site)
** [http://www.langley.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3709 1st Fighter Wing fact sheet]
* [http://www.af.mil/history/1stfighterwing.asp 1st Fighter Wing Heritage Site]